In-home Family Lifestyle Newborn Photography Session | Dallas, TX
I love that lifestyle newborn sessions are so much more popular now. I feel like it is extra special photographing a family in their own home, and especially when welcoming a new baby. My favorite locations in the home for these sessions are the main living room, master bedroom, and nursery. However even a simple wall next to a window, hallway, or stairway is a beautiful spot in a home for pictures. Pictures are more about your connection with each other than the location. Another reason I love being a lifestyle newborn photographer is because older children are often calmer taking pictures in their own home. They are able to go to a different room if they need a quick break and usually come right back ready to take more pictures.
This Dallas-Fort Worth lifestyle newborn session was extra special since it was for my brother’s family and my new little niece Nellie. We were all surprised to see her olive skin and full head of dark hair. Their two other kids are cute little blondes with blue eyes. At 5 days old, she was absolutely perfect during her session and hardly made a sound.
Tips for your Lifestyle Newborn Photography Session
Though newborns are extra sleepy within their first two weeks, with lifestyle newborn sessions they do not have to be that little. However, if wanting to capture a few posed portraits of just baby or if you want baby to be asleep the majority of the session- I do recommend capturing pictures within that early time frame. Otherwise I suggest taking pictures within the first month and baby will be swaddled and held during pictures.
Make the areas in your home that you want pictures in (living room, master bedroom, nursery, etc) slightly warmer than you would usually keep your home. Babies are more comfortable in the areas are warmer especially if they will be unswaddled/only in a diaper cover.
Feed and burp baby right before session is to start. But it is totally fine if baby needs to eat during the session to go back to sleep or be comfortable. This is why sessions can take up to 2 hours. And I think it is sweet to capture feeding pictures.
I always start with the full family pictures and then sibling pictures so that older siblings do not need to stick around the entire time (I know they won’t last 2 hours of pictures haha). Before the photoshoot keep things as calm and normal as possible. If mom and dad are stressed, then all the kids will be too. Also smarties are the best candy bribe which I always keep in my camera bag!
In terms of outfits- I always recommend dressing like you decorate your home. And I especially always recommend dressing in neutrals and not a lot of patterns. Feel free to ask me for advice on outfits if you need it!
If you find any pictures/poses you would want to recreate during your session send them before hand, but also don’t be upset if those pictures don’t happen. Some babies hate being on their bellies/back/held in certain positions. So I always love getting inspiration pictures but also don’t be set on those always happening. Babies can be a bit unpredictable :)
My last tip/advice is to get newborn pictures done! It is something that you will regret if you pass up that chance to get them taken if you’re able to. It is incredible how fast those tiny babies change and grow, so make sure to document them!
Aubrey Stock Photography is a family photographer, lifestyle photographer, newborn photographer, and wedding photographer serving North Dallas, Flower Mound, Highland Village, Southlake, Westlake, Grapevine, Argyle, Plano, Mckinney, and surrounding areas. Please contact me for questions or to schedule your session.